5 Most Common Reasons For Driving Accidents

Even with all the advances made in the automobile industry and in road safety over the last 100 years, the insurance Institute of Highway safety reports that nearly 3,000 Californians die in car accidents every year. As such, drivers all over the country should view car accidents as a legitimate health and safety hazard. We’ve taken a look at the most common causes of car accidents and some practical steps you can take to avoid ending up in one.

Bad Weather
Although most car accidents are caused by driver error, poor conditions created by bad weather are to blame for thousands of collisions every year. The presence of rain or snow on the roads impairs a driver’s ability to control their vehicle, as it’s difficult for even a top-of-the-line anti-lock braking system to stop a vehicle that is traveling on a slippery surface. Additionally, thick fog and heavy rain can reduce visibility to an unsafe level. When driving in bad weather, it’s usually important that you drive cautiously and pull off the road if you can no longer maintain control of your vehicle.

Reckless Driving
Reckless drivers are people who drive with a blatant disregard for the rules of the road. People who change lanes without signaling, ignore traffic signs and lights and make improper turns are a danger to themselves and their fellow commuters. Whether you’re driving on the 101 or a small residential street, it’s imperative that you obey any and all traffic signs and adhere to every driving law outlined in regionally appropriate guidebooks, such as the California Driver Handbook.

Speeding
One of one of the most dangerous causes of car accidents is speeding. It is problematic in that it increases a driver’s likelihood of getting into a crash and reduces their ability to react quickly to a potential accident. By simply following posted speed limits on roads and freeways, you can avoid becoming one of the 2.35 million people who are injured or killed in car accidents every year.

Drunk Driving
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 10,076 people were killed in accidents involving a driver who had a blood alcohol volume over the legal limit in 2013. That means every 52 minutes, someone was killed in an alcohol-related car accident. Driving under the influence of alcohol causes drivers to become a serious threat to themselves and all other commuters, so there is absolutely no excuse for getting behind the wheel when intoxicated. Make sure to call a friend that can drive you instead, or take a taxi.

Distracted Driving
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that in 2012, 421,000 people were injured in car accidents caused by distracted drivers. The most common cause of car accidents in the U.S. is due to drivers sending or receiving text messages, eating, talking on the phone, grooming, adjusting their radios or admiring the scenery. While experienced drivers may feel comfortable behind the wheel that they don’t need to monitor the road constantly, false assumption claims more than 3,000 lives a year. The truth is it is never safe to take your eyes off the road while driving.